Types of Intestinal Transplant Surgery

There are three types of intestinal transplant procedures. The type you need depends on how severe your disease.

Transplant type

Who might benefit

Isolated intestine (small bowel) transplant

People with organ failure limited to the small bowel and who do not have liver failure.

Those with irreversible intestinal failure and are unable to digest food well enough to eat a normal diet.

Combined liver and intestine transplant

People who have liver and intestinal failure.

Most people who continue on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) without other treatment have a median survival of less than 12 months.

Multivisceral transplant

People with gastrointestinal disorders that cause gut failure or life-threatening neoplasm.

You may need this type of transplant when your intestine and two or more intra-abdominal organs are failing.

A multivisceral transplant includes the:

Stomach

Duodenum

Pancreas

Intestine, with or without the liver

Intestinal Transplant Team

Once your doctor refers you to our center, we will assign you a transplant coordinator.

He or she will link you to the rest of your intestinal transplant care team of:

Transplant surgeons

Gastroenterologists

Nutritionists

Pain management specialists

Pharmacists

Psychiatrists

Social workers

Credit analysts

Pre-Intestinal Transplant Evaluation and Tests

If the transplant surgeon and gastroenterologist feel that transplant may be the best option for you, we will assign you to a credit analyst. The analyst will check your insurance coverage and discuss potential costs with you.

After we receive insurance approval, you can begin the pre-intestinal transplant evaluation process.

This series of outpatient visits takes a week to complete. You will need to stay near UPMC and have a caregiver with you at each appointment.

Family House offers affordable housing to people traveling to Pittsburgh for intestinal transplants.

Pre-intestinal transplant tests

You will have a series of tests and scans to find out your risks and benefits from the surgery.

Because there are many options for intestinal transplant, tests and scans vary from person to person.

Intestinal Transplant Waiting List

Because intestinal organ transplant is fairly uncommon, the wait list is short. However, the criteria for donor organs are specific.

The time on the list varies depending on what type of intestinal transplant you need.

For people who need a liver — as in a multivisceral transplant — your model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score dictates your place on the waiting list. This score reflects the severity of liver disease. The higher the score, the higher your priority on the wait list.

While on the transplant wait list, we:

Use the results from your weekly lab tests for TPN to keep your status updated.

Continue to manage your condition medically.

If Intestinal Transplant Isn't Right for You

In many cases, our team is able to treat intestinal health problems — and even help people eat solid food again — without the need for a transplant.

We will always try all medical treatment options before advising intestinal transplantation.

For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.

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